Runta News- Seattle, Washington
A press release published in Washington Democrats’ website, nearly 100 officials signed a letter condemning Trump’s attacks on Somali Americans. A copy of the letter received by Runta was written as follows.
“We, the undersigned elected officials from across Washington State, stand together to affirm the dignity, contributions, and leadership of Somali Americans, our neighbors, constituents, colleagues, and community partners. The harmful, unacceptable, and un-American comments made by President Donald Trump toward the Somali community put people’s lives and safety at risk and have no place in our democracy. Let us be clear: they will not define who we are as a nation or dim the contributions of Somali Americans, who are pillars of our state’s social, cultural, and economic life.
Like millions of American families with immigrant roots, Somali American families contribute through the everyday work that supports Washington’s economy and strengthens communities across our state. By creating jobs as entrepreneurs, teaching the next generation as childcare providers and teachers, and serving on the frontlines of our health care and transportation systems, they help keep our state moving and support working families.
As Washingtonians, we choose unity over hostility and hope over fear, standing for the safety, security, and fair treatment of all our communities.
As elected leaders, we reaffirm our commitments.
- Protecting the dignity and safety of every community and confronting rhetoric or actions that undermine who we are as a nation.
- Upholding the importance of due process and fairness in all systems, including the federal immigration system, and supporting efforts that help residents understand their rights.
- Ensuring that schools and public spaces remain safe, supportive environments where every person is free from bullying, harassment, discrimination, or targeted harm.
- Championing investments in economic opportunity, language access, education, childcare, and workforce development that open doors for all people in our state and keep Washington working.
Our focus is not on the words meant to tear communities down but on uplifting those who continue to build this state up. We stand proudly with Somali Washingtonians today and every day.
Signed,
- Governor Bob Ferguson
- Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal
- Congresswoman Suzan DelBene
- Congressman Adam Smith
- Congressman Rick Larsen
- Attorney General Nick Brown
- Mike Pelliciotti, Washington State Treasurer
- Dave Upthegrove, Washington State Commissioner of Public Lands
- Chris Reykdal, Superintendent of Public Instruction
- Patty Kuderer, Washington State Insurance Commissioner
- Jamie Pedersen, State Senate Majority Leader
- Mike Chapman, State Senator
- Liz Lovelett, State Senator
- Sharon Shewmake, State Senator
- T’wina Nobles, State Senator
- Rebecca Saldaña, State Senator
- Emily Alvarado, State Senator
- Yasmin Trudeau, State Senator
- Javier Valdez, State Senator
- Noel Frame, State Senator
- Derek Stanford, State Senator
- Bob Hasegawa, State Senator
- Vandanna Slatter, State Senator
- Beth Doglio, State Representative
- April Berg, State Representative
- Chipalo Street, State Representative
- Julia Reed, State Representative
- Brianna Thomas, State Representative
- Amy Walen, State Representative
- Greg Nance, State Representative
- Joe Fitzgibbon, State Representative
- Kristene Reeves, State Representative
- Nicole Macri, State Representative
- Mary Fosse, State Representative
- Liz Berry, State Representative
- Jamila Taylor, State Representative
- Sharon Tomiko Santos, State Representative
- Shelly Kloba, State Representative
- Mia Gregerson, State Representative
- Darya Farivar, State Representative
- Tarra Simmons, State Representative
- Debra Entenman, State Representative
- Sharlett Mena, State Representative
- Davina Duerr, State Representative
- Osman Salahuddin, State Representative
- Janice Zahn, State Representative
- Zach Hall, State Representative
- Lisa Callan, State Representative
- Timm Ormsby, State Representative
- My-Linh Thai, State Representative
- Lauren Davis, State Representative
- Teresa Mosqueda, King County Council
- Jorge L. Barón, King County Council
- Katie Wilson, Seattle Mayor-elect
- Alexis Mercedes Rinck, Seattle City Council
- Joy Hollingsworth, Seattle City Council
- Rob Saka, Seattle City Council
- Dan Strauss, Seattle City Council
- Dionne Foster, Seattle City Council-elect
- Hamdi Mohamed, Port of Seattle Commission
- Toshiko Hasegawa, Port of Seattle Commission
- Kristin Ang, Port of Tacoma Commission
- Erika Evans, Seattle City Attorney-elect
- James Lovell, SeaTac City Council
- Sarah Moore, Deputy Mayor of Burien
- Kim-Khánh Văn, Renton City Council
- Jon Culver, Kenmore City Council
- Josh Rosenau, Lake Forest Park City Council-elect
- Sarah Arndt, Woodinville City Council
- Michelle Evans, Woodinville City Council
- Thomas McLeod, Tukwila Mayor
- Hannah Hedrick, Tukwila City Council
- Mohamed Abdi, Tukwila City Council
- Jane Ho, Tukwila City Council
- Jenne Alderks, Bothell City Council
- Rami Al-Kabra, Bothell City Council
- Amanda Dodd, Bothell City Council
- Carston Curd, Bothell City Council
- Hanan Amer, Auburn City Council
- Mohamed Egal, SeaTac Mayor
- Joe Vinson, SeaTac City Council
- Senayet Negusse, SeaTac City Council
- Lydia Assefa-Daweson, Federal Way City Council
- Nigel Herbig, Kenmore Mayor
- Bedria Abdullahi, SeaTac City Council-elect
- Sam Méndez, Burien City Council
- Rocco Devito, Burien City Council
- Hugo Garcia, Burien City Council
- Shasti Conrad, Washington State Democrats Chair”
For more information, please visit https://wadems.org/
